Bennett Campbell
Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Infobox officeholder William Bennett Campbell Template:Post-nominals (August 27, 1943 – September 11, 2008) was a Canadian politician who was the 24th premier of Prince Edward Island.
Biography
Born in Montague, Prince Edward Island, Campbell was a teacher by profession before entering politics in 1970 and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island as a Liberal candidate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1972, he became Minister of Education;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Provincial Secretary in 1974; and Minister of Finance in 1976.
When Liberal leader and PEI Premier Alexander B. Campbell (no relation) announced his retirement, Bennett Campbell was elected interim leader of the PEI Liberal Party by the caucus and was sworn in as premier on September 18, 1978.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On December 9, he was elected leader at the party's leadership convention.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
His government was defeated in the general election held the next year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He remained party leader and leader of the opposition until he decided to enter federal politics. He won the seat for Cardigan in the House of Commons of Canada through a 1981 by-election following the death of Daniel J. MacDonald.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 22, 1981, he took over Macdonald's cabinet portfolio and became Minister of Veterans Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He retained his portfolio when John Turner succeeded Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister, but lost his seat to Pat Binns in the 1984 election that brought down the short-lived Turner government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 1986 provincial election, Campbell attempted to regain his former district of 3rd Kings,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but lost to Progressive Conservative incumbent Joey Fraser by 16 votes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On September 11, 2008, Campbell died of cancer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Electoral record
Template:CANelec/top Template:CANelec Template:CANelec Template:CANelec Template:Canadian election result/total Template:End Template:1984 Canadian federal election/Cardigan
References
External links
Template:PEIPremiers Template:Prince Edward Island Liberal leaders Template:Turner Ministry Template:CA-Ministers of Veterans Affairs
- 1943 births
- 2008 deaths
- Deaths from cancer in Prince Edward Island
- Liberal Party of Canada MPs
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Prince Edward Island
- Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada
- Politicians from Kings County, Prince Edward Island
- Premiers of Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Liberal Party MLAs
- Prince Edward Island Liberal Party leaders
- Members of the 23rd Canadian Ministry
- 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada
- 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
- Minister of veterans affairs of Canada